Summary
Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below for IMPORTANT additional information.
The purpose of this position is to organize, train, and equip to provide for freedom of operations in, from, and to the space domain in the US; to provide independent military options for joint and national leadership; and to enable the lethality and effectiveness of the joint force. Includes combat and combat-support functions to enable prompt and sustained offensive and defensive space operations.
This job is open to
The public
U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.
Duties
Shapes requirements and policies to achieve desired capabilities. Reviews/advises complex real property instruments, environmental law, and support agreements. Develops and implements spaceport and test range capacity and resiliency initiatives. Advises on National Environmental Protection Act and Real Property processes such as launch site allocation, launch capacity expansion, and leases/licenses. Represents AATS in spaceport coordination with the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and Environment (SAF/IE) and the General Counsel of the Department of the Air Force (SAF/GC).
Provides comprehensive planning framework to enable strategic and long-term planning for spaceports to support Department of Defense (DoD), Department of the Air Force, USSF, Intelligence Community (IC), civil, and commercial customers through development of investment strategies, policy changes, and legislative proposals. Represents AATS on the Spaceport Advisory Council, National Spaceport Strategy discussions, Global Spaceport Alliance, and international spaceport engagements. Counterpart to the Air Force Civil Engineer Center on "Spaceport of the Future-Infrastructure" to invest in Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and Vandenberg Space Force Base modernization and sustainment strategy. Advisor for spaceport-related acquisition strategies, principally for range equipment and critical facility and infrastructure assets. Advises DoD leadership on the roles of Space Launch Deltas 30 and 45 as Major Range Test and Facility Bases. Represents AATS leaders frequently in the performance of duties.
Advises on spaceport and test range capacity, responsiveness, and resilience and on modernization and sustainment of spaceport and test range capabilities. Prepares and delivers authoritative analysis covering program objectives, requirements, status, and risk during regular and/or recurring meetings with political appointees, congressional members and staffers, DoD senior leaders (Offices of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations and Environment and General Council; USSF Deputy Chief of Space Operations for Operations, Cyber, and Nuclear; United States Air Force Logistics, Engineering, and Force Protection Directorate; Space Systems Command; Air Force Materiel Command; Air Force Global Strike Command; Test Resource Management Center, U.S. Navy Strategic Systems Programs, etc.), mission partners (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Reconnaissance Office, Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state governments, international partners, etc.), AATS leaders, academia, and industry.
Maintains daily contact with senior personnel from across Space Force, Space Operations Command (SpOC), National Space Intelligence Center, Air Force, DoD and national level Intelligence Community (IC) organizations having mission-related activities and occasionally with operating personnel within the IC from a threat assessment lens ensuring the safety and security of spaceports. Interprets broad national and international-level requirements, strategic vision, sets goals and objectives, determines priorities and direction for protecting US Spaceports and makes trade-offs between the different conflicting program priorities to meet resource constraints. Provides key information to leadership to assist in formulating goals and objectives that integrate organization and objectives.
Space-based national security space launch programs and systems are highly complex and technically challenging. As a national security asset, the work is characterized by matters of such difficulty or novelty that leading scientific experts may disagree on an approach or probability of outcome. Additionally, the necessary related policy may not have been developed yet. Maintains current knowledge of evolving space and national defense needs and anticipates future requirements. Conducts technical assessments and evaluations that provide a basis for long-range planning towards enhancement of the spaceports' capabilities. Develops strategies and directs analyses, projects, plans, etc., to maintain and advance the AATS mission. Monitors or conducts the planning, programming, and budgeting to support the spaceport missions.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
- U.S. citizenship is required
- Males must be registered for Selective Service, see www.sss.gov
- Disclosure of Political Appointments
- Selected candidate must file a Executive Personnel Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form 450) in accordance with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978
- Position has been designated Critical-Sensitive and the selectee must have or be able to obtain a Top Secret clearance
- Drug testing designated position. The incumbent is subject to random testing for drug use IAW Exec. Order 12564, dated 14 Sep 86. Position requires that the incumbent sign a Drug Testing letter and pass urinalysis testing prior to appointment.
- Position requires travel under conditions specified in the DoD Joint Travel Regulations. Incumbent is expected to travel on short notice to attend high-level meetings.
- Position may require incumbent to be available for other than normal duty hours to include weekends to support exercises and crisis planning.
- Position may be subject to the post-government employment restrictions of Sections 207(a) and (f) of Title 18, United States Code.
- Applicants in receipt of an annuity based on civilian employment in the Federal Service are subject to the DoD Policy on The Employment of Annuitants.
Qualifications
Eligibility will be based upon a clear showing the applicant has training, education and experience of the scope and quality sufficient to effectively carry-out the duties of the position. Candidates must exemplify the corporate perspective, leadership vision, broad experience and character needed in the SES corps not only to satisfy the immediate vacancy, but future vacancies which will occur in a variety of organizations, functions and locations.
HQEs contribute in a variety of occupational fields, such as soft and hard sciences, engineering, technology, human resources, business, transformation, education, medicine, languages, and logistics.
HQEs may be hired to mentor, lead, oversee, direct, manage, and or consult on DoD programs and initiatives, including high profile and fast track assignments.
HQEs serve at the pleasure of the Appointing Official and may be terminated at any time. When practicable, they should be given no less than 3-days' advance notice.
Education
A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution is highly desired. A master's or advanced degree is highly desired.
Additional information
Direct Deposit: All federal employees are required to have direct deposit.
If you have questions regarding this announcement and have hearing or speech difficulties click here.
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
Review our benefits
Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.
How you will be evaluated
You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
A Resume-based Hiring Method will be used for this recruitment. A well-written 2-Page resume for this announcement should demonstrate the knowledge and experience listed in the duties section of the vacancy announcement.
Applications will be evaluated against the position's requirements. Failure to meet the position duties and qualifications will eliminate a candidate from further consideration.
Required Documents
To receive full consideration, each applicant must submit the MANDATORY documents in the format as designated.
Packages that do not include all of the required documents or meet format requirements will not be forwarded for consideration.
**************ALL DOCUMENTS MUST BE UPLOADED IN PDF FORMAT*******************
The Qualifications Documents must be formatted using Times New Roman, size 10 font, with 1-inch margins. Do not use borders, provide photos, or list a Social Security Number on any of the Qualifications Documents. DO NOT COMBINE DOCUMENTS.
A. (Mandatory) Resume in the preferred format (Limit 2 Pages Total). Upload in PDF format. PLEASE DO NOT USE USAJOBS RESUME BUILDER.NOTE: Resumes longer than two pages will not be considered
B. Most recent Notification of Personnel Action, SF-50, noting your current position, grade level and salary level (applies only to current or former civilian government employee).
C. (Mandatory) Military: Retired - a copy of your DD214 and/or Retirement orders; Active Duty - Are you an active-duty service member with a statement of service showing that you expect to be honorably discharged or released from the armed forces under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after submitting your application.
PLEASE NOTE: you will be ineligible for consideration if your statement of service is not submitted with your application or it shows an expected discharge or release date greater than 120 days from the date of the submission of the certification. Documents are required.
How to Apply
Please follow the below instructions to submit applications. Any applications received that do not include all of the required documents or do not meet format requirements will not be forwarded for consideration.
The complete Application Package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 03/04/2026.
To begin the process, click the Apply Online button to create an account or log in to your existing USAJOBS account. Follow the prompts to complete the application questionnaire. Please ensure you click the Submit My Application button at the end of the process.
PLEASE NOTE: It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered and/or uploaded, (i.e., resume) is received, accurate, and submitted by the closing date. You may verify your documents have been processed with your application package successfully. You can access your USAJOBS account to do so by clicking here. Uploaded documents may take up to one hour to clear the virus scan.
Human Resources WILL NOT modify or change any answers submitted by an applicant.
PREFERRED RESUME FORMAT: (Limit 2 pages/Times New Roman 10-font) (Do Not Use the USAJOBS Resume Builder) - Please submit a typewritten resume (upload as a PDF), including the following information:
Job Information: Announcement number (MRL2026-00382) and title of the position to which you are applying.
Personal Information: Full name, mailing address (with zip code), day and evening phone numbers (with area code) and complete e-mail address where you would like to receive correspondence regarding your application. **PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER**
Active-Duty/Retired Military: State highest rank held, date of promotion and date eligible to retire or date of retirement, (e.g., Colonel/June 2006/December 2014). NOTE: IAW 5 U.S.C. 3326, a 180-day waiver will be required for retired or retiring members of the armed forces during the period of 180 days immediately after retirement. Please note: you will be ineligible for consideration if your statement of service is not submitted with your application or it shows an expected discharge or release date greater than 120 days from the date of the submission of the certification.
Education: Educational information, including the name, city and state of colleges or universities you attended, as well as the type and year of any degree received. Report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. For more information, you may refer to the following U.S. Department of Education website: http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html
Work Experience: Give the following information for your paid and non-paid work experience related to the job for which you are applying: (Do not send job descriptions).
- Starting and ending dates (month and year)
- Job title (for government position, include civilian series and grade or military rank)
- Employer's name and address
- Supervisor's name and phone number, please indicate if we may contact your current supervisor
- Salary (current)
HELPFUL HINTS FOR YOUR RESUME:
- Read the vacancy announcement carefully.
- Adhere to the 2-page limitation (in PDF format and 10 point font)
- Quantify your accomplishments.
* Applicants should focus on recency of experience - Recruitment Panels, Executive Resources Boards, and Hiring Officials may consider experience over 10 years outdated.
This agency provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please notify this office. The decision on granting reasonable accommodations will be on a case-by-case basis.
SAF/MRL CONTACT INFORMATION: Questions regarding this announcement may be directed to charles.andrews.14@us.af.mil
Next steps
Once your application package is received an acknowledgement email will be sent.
If you provided an email address, you will receive an email message acknowledging receipt of your application. Your application package will be used to determine your eligibility and qualifications for consideration. If you are determined to be ineligible or not qualified, your application will receive no further consideration.
To check the status of your application or return to a previous or incomplete application, log into your USAJOBS account, select My Applications, and click on the more information link under the application status for this position.
If you do not provide an email address, you are responsible for checking status updates and notifications in USAJOBS. Hard copy notifications will not be sent to you.